Improvement in illuminated signs



NITED y STATES lPATENT Orlca JAMES HARRISON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATED SIGNS.

Specicaton forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,711, dated September 4, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs HARRrsoN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Illuminated Letters, Signs. Smc.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specilication, in which- Figure l is a front view of a portion of a sign illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionof the saine taken through the line y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish improved illuminated letters, Ste., by means of which the devices may be rendered clearly perceptible at a great distance when viewed at any angle; and it consists of the combination of glass cups with the letters or devices to be shown, and with the background of said letters or devices, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

A is the background of the sign. This may be made of wood, metal, porcelain, or other material, according to the situation in which the sign is to be used. Upon this background the letters or devices may be formed in block or raised work B. Then, through the raised the glass cups G. These cups G are secured to the groundwork and to the raised work by any of the known means in such a way that their mouths shall open within or back ot' the background A, and be entirely close on the front or outside ofthe sign.

' The letters or devices are illuminated by a light or lights placed behind the letters or devices, and horizontal therewith. Enough' light or lights should be used to fully illumine all parts of the letters or devices.

Glass cups of any color may be used, or they may be made of clear glass, according as the purpose of the sign may render advisable.

By this arrangement the lights will be wholly protected from the wind, and the cups will be protected from being broken by the flame ofthe light being blown against their sides by the wind, which causes the breakage of so many ot' the open cups now in use, and makes their use so expensive.

Another advantage of' my invention is that the cups are brought into relief by the background, and the signs are consequently made legible from a distance, even when unilluminated.

I claim as new and desire by Letters Patent- The combination of the close glass cups C with the block or raised work B of the letters or devices to be shown, and with the background A, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES HARRISON.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, J AMES T. GRAHAM. 

